In Other News...

It's official. On April 5, Layne Staley, the 34-year-old singer of Alice in Chains, died from an overdose of cocaine and heroin, according to a just-released report from the King County Medical Examiners Office. According to the grim report, Staley was dead in his University District condo for almost two weeks before police, acting on a 911 call from Staley's mother, discovered him. (Oddly, Kurt Cobain also died on April 5, in 1994.) Staley's parents are asking that contributions be made to Eastside Recovery Center, 1412 140th Place NE, Bellevue, WA 98007 (425-747-7892). PAT KEARNEY

Ballard Firehouse Cancels All-Ages Shows

On Sunday, April 27, the Ballard Firehouse hosted their last all-ages show, ending a two-year-plus streak of catering to the underage music community. Shorty, the booker for the weekly kid-friendly events, says there wasn't a reason for the end other than "the owners don't want it and the sound guy doesn't want it. That's it." "I'm upset about [having to stop]," he says, "but it's time to move on. I'll probably find another club." MEGAN SELING

Housing Levy

Before signing off on November's housing levy, which is supposed to give cash to low-income developers to build, rent, and sell low-income housing, liberal Seattleites (out in force to support the levy at a May 6 public hearing) might want to know that up to 25 percent of that fund could actually go to lower-middle-class folks earning up to 60 percent, even 80 percent of the median income! This means, for example, that the Housing Levy could subsidize a costly one-bedroom apartment going for $953. Not only is this a misuse of public money, it's also a disincentive to market-rate developers to build for the middle-class. With low-income developers getting dough to build middle-income housing, why would anyone else bother entering that market? JOSH FEIT

Liquor Board Campaign

A few weeks ago, the Washington State Liquor Control Board--in coordination with the Seattle Police Department--launched a crackdown against underage drinking. Basically, the campaign consists of young cops or kids of cops trying to buy booze all over town at various restaurants and grocery stores. Well, the campaign, which so far has caught 27 out of 231 places (the Baltic Room just got nabbed), is freaking servers out. One server even wrote The Stranger saying the fine was $10,000 for serving kids! However, according to the liquor board the fine is $500, and the campaign will not be ongoing. "We're just trying to address prom time, when kids are looking for places to party," says liquor board spokesperson Gigi Zenk. PAT KEARNEY